Photoshop: CS5 doesn't allow to edit previously saved files on Lion

I have Photoshop CS5 and I've installed Lion and updated Java Runtime. However, PSD is not working with previously saved files. It says 'Could not complete your request because of a program error.' if I try to edit a previously saved file.

Jeffrey – I've tried this on my Photoshop CS5.1 Installation to no avail. I've even went so far as to wipe my entire system and reinstall. I've checked for corrupted fonts, restored files from backup, and even tried opening files on another Lion install with CS5 on another computer. Still will not allow me to open files.

I've resorted to using CS4 for the time being, which seems to work fine.

When you say "wipe your entire system" do you mean wiping Photoshop from the existing system and reinstalling Photoshop or starting from square one, installing a fresh OS, then installing Photoshop on a factory fresh OS install?

Is it all files? (can you open "Ducky.tif" from the samples folder inside the Photoshop application folder for example) Or only specific files? (If it's specific files, what makes them different? do they contain text or specific font?)

The only thing that they appear to share in common is the typeface Helvetica Neue Bold, and they are ALL in .PSD format. The interesting thing is that I can actually open other files using this typeface, so it appears entirely random. I do not have issues opening other formats (jpeg, png, tiff, etc.)

I did encounter the same problem that was reported on this thread in CS4 with font display, I assumed that somehow they were related:

I've completed the fix recommended by Adam Campbell (which worked to fix my issues in CS4). I can still not open the problem files.

The files also can be totally unrelated when created, and I still have this issue. I had a co worker create a file on his machine with no fonts and he could open/edit/save fine and I continue to receive this cryptic error. Is there a debugging tool available to see if it is throwing up a *particular* error so I might be able to isolate the problem?

If it's specific to Helvetica Neue Bold being in the files, then it sounds related to the other issues users are seeing with Helvetica Neue Bold on Lion. There appears to be some font related issues (particularly related to Helvetica Neue Bold) in Lion that affect several different applications including Safari and Photoshop. We're working with Apple on it. Not sure what form the fix will come in at this point (whether an OS fix is needed or product fix).

I've managed to isolate the error I was receiving to one particular attribute shared among all my files: The usage of the typeface Lucida Grande in the file. All of the files I tried opening had a base grid that used Lucida Grande for it's measurements. Once I deleted these and saved in CS4 > reopened in CS5 it worked fine.

To test my theory I created several test documents in CS4 with a simple text box in the center and set the typeface selection to "Lucida Grande". I could not open any of these using this typeface in CS5.

I proceeded to fix this "for good" by following a step by step by Adam Campbell regarding font conflicts being caused in OSX. The font causing this issue was "Lucida Grande". I can only assume that some of the new system fonts coming with OSX Lion are causing conflicts with older photoshop documents created in Snow Leopard.

Disclaimers:
a) This worked for me in Photoshop CS4/CS5
b) I backed up everything I used to complete this process in order to restore if something broke.

Instructions –

1. You need the Snow Leopard version of Lucida Grande. Get it here
2. Copy it (Apple+C)
3. Go to /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/
Frameworks/ATS.framework/Versions/A/Resources/ProtectedFonts/
4. Delete the LucidaGrande.ttc from that folder and paste in the replacement (Apple+V)
5. Go to /System/Library/Fonts/
6. Delete LucidaGrande.ttc from that folder and it will auto-replace itself.
7. At this point, you should clear out font caches for Photoshop. Here is how:
- Close all applications
- Launch Terminal
- Enter the following command at the prompt and press Return: atsutil databases -removeUser
- Quit Terminal
8. Reboot (For Good Measure)

David,
Upgraded to Lion last night and couldn't open psd files today. Although I had to search to figure out what terminal was, following these steps seems to have fixed the problem. Glad I found your comment. That was a quicker fix than what a lot of people have done. I wouldn't know how to do half of that anyway. Thank you!

It seems that the problem were the fonts. Many of the fonts I had installed that were maintained in Lion report problems when I check them using FontBook. After removing all problematic fonts, Photoshop worked fine.

I'm sorry that I took some time to post this, but I lost track of my original post and I ran into it today in my email again.

Only thing I can recommend is to open the files in an older version of PS, change the sections you used Lucida Grande in to another typeface and reopen and replace. This is what I had to do prior to getting my version of the fix to work. Definitely not convenient, but works if you're in a pinch.

Jordan, if you've tried my suggestions but have a file that's 100% reproducible with this problem, please send it to me. I would like to see if there's anything else we (Adobe) can do to solve things. I'll send you an email.

I was having the same problem. We use Lucida Grande for a lot of Email/web design and it was causing a program error.

So far this has worked for me:
Copy Lucida Grande from the system font folder
Paste it in a folder where you keep your font collection
Load the pasted font (I use suitcase fusion, not sure if font book will have same results)

After I did this the problem magically disappeared. Fusion says there is a conflict but whatever... it works.

I helped a designer solve what seems to be a related problem and I just want to pass on the info here in case it might help.

Her issue was that she could open an old file but she say the 'fonts needed to be updated before being used for....' message.
Once she updated (or even chose to not update) she could not edit text layers nor move them with the mouse. She got the '...program error' message.
I noticed that she could still more text layers with the arrows keys, odd.

We fixed this issue like this:

- I used Fontbook to Restore Standard Fonts..
and I checked her System library to be sure there were no non-Apple Lion issue fonts installed.
- restarted
- opened the old file
- PS 5.5 said something like, 'Fonts need to be updated before being used...'
and 'Some fonts are missing and font substitution will take place'

The file then opened normally and she could edit, move, etc without the '...program error' messages.

- then we used Fontbook to put back a specific font she needed for the old file.
- PS opened the file with just the 'fonts need to be updated...' message but the update was successful she has no problems editing or saving the old file. And she is able to get back to here oh so stellar design work again.

We didn't need to do any manual intervention in the font system files.